Riegelsville Chief Misses Hearing

Riegelsville Borough Council last night ended disciplinary hearings on suspended Police Chief Ray Miller after the chief failed to appear for cross-examination.

Council said it would schedule a meeting at which it would render its decision whether to fire the chief for alleged conduct unbecoming an officer.

Council says the chief has brought notoriety to the borough. In a paternity suit against the chief, the Bucks County Court found in November that Miller had failed to pay child support and had not told the truth about his paternal role. He also allegedly committed adultery.

Council then suspended Miller and has held several hearings on whether to dismiss him.

Last night's hearing before about 10 borough residents began with angry statements between Miller's attorney, Sam Litzenberger, and borough solicitor Charles Dorsett, who led the hearing. Dorsett complained that Miller was being uncooperative by failing to appear for cross-examination. Litzenberger shot back, "You couldn't be impartial if you wanted to be."

Prosecutor Douglas Maloney said he was frustrated not to be able to cross-examine Miller. Because of that, he asked council to strike Miller's testimony at previous hearings.

Maloney added that Miller's "inexcusable" failure to attend his own hearing to be cross-examined indicated how ridiculous the situation is.

Litzenberger replied that council should have postponed the hearing as he requested because Miller wasn't there to defend himself.

The hearing lasted about 40 minutes and involved testimony by former council member Thomas Mock, who said the chief had a good reputation.

Maloney said calling more character witnesses for the chief was a "complete waste of time." Dorsett said council has "been barraged" with character witnesses.

Litzenberger also submitted as supporting exhibits numerous newspaper police articles about Riegelsville that he said indicated that the chief has performed his job capably.

Maloney objected to the articles. "I don't see how they are possibly relevant."

Litzenberger said that was an ironic point of view because newspaper articles underlay the charges against Miller. He said the charges are based on notoriety that resulted from newspaper publicity about Miller's paternity trial.

Council went into private session for about 15 minutes to discuss Maloney's request to end the hearings. Upon reconvening, Dorsett said no more hearings would be held. "Council is disappointed. It wanted to hear cross-examination," he said.

John Miller, head of council's police committee, said that in the chief's absence the borough is being covered by the state police. He said that if council fires Miller, council will consider hiring another police chief, keeping state police coverage, or joining with neighboring townships for police coverage.

The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board will hold a hearing March 14 on the chief's charges that he was suspended unfairly and deserves back pay, said Litzenberger.